Czech and Slovak photo publications, 1918-1989

Abstract

"This survey of Czech and Slovak photo publications commemorates the hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Czechoslovakia on 28 October 2018. It demonstrates the persistent tradition of superior artistic imagination and technical ingenuity that is uniquely and wonderfully Czech and Slovak. Over its more than 1,000 years of existence the Czechs and Slovaks were only a free nation between 1918 and 1938 and again since 1989. When finally living under their own rule, photographers and writers, typographers and book designers, graphic artists and printers were consumed by a love of country and documented its landscapes, cities, national treasures, monuments and the life of its people with unflinching attention thus forming their unique cultural identity, even during Nazi annexation and 40 years of Communist occupation. In nine chapters this comprehensive book explores over 800 publications from 1918 to 1989, highlighting the work of more than 250 photographers and graphic artists." -- Publisher's website.

Contents

Czechoslovakia, photography and the Czech and Slovak photo publications / Manfred Heiting -- Sokol Slets and Communist spartakiads / Petr Roubal -- Photo publications 1920-1939 -- The perfection of sheet-fed gravure printing: V. Neubert and sons in Prague - Smichov / James Steerman -- Josef Sudek: the poet with the camera / Vojtech Lahoda -- The protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia 1939-1945, the Nazi war crimes at Terezin and Lidice. suppression, destruction and liberation / James Steerman -- The Third Republic and the ascent of Communism 1945-1949 / James Steerman -- The city photobook and the book as export for hard currency 1950-1989 / Thomas Wiegand -- Photo publications 1950-1989 -- The walls and the books of Josef Koudelka / Amanda Maddox -- Index.